As you can see, we have a fun little goody packet for you in this contest to celebrate the release of the latest book in the Moonlight Harbor series - WINTER AT THE BEACH. You can use the tissue when you get to the parts that make you cry. (Hmm, are there any this time? You'll have to be the judge.) And you can hang the little flip flop ornament on your tree to help you get in touch with your inner beach babe. Sheila's author copies didn't arrive in time for the book to make the photo op. But never fear, a copy of WINTER AT THE BEACH will also be included. (And that, you can give to a friend for Christmas, cuz we know you'll have already gone out and gotten your own copy. Heehee.)So, what to do? Share your favorite thing about the holidays - is it the cookies, the decorations, the parties? Christmas Eve candlelight service? In the book, our heroine and her friends have to cope with a storm. How about you? Ever lost power? What do you do when that happens? If you prefer you can entertain and inspire us with a "power is out" anecdote.There it is. Easy as can be. We'll pick a winner November 15th. And you know what? If you bought a copy of WINTER AT THE BEACH, mention that and we'll put your name in the hat twice. Happy reading!P.S. Guys, check here when we announce the winner, check your spam file, check ... whatever. You'd be surprised how often our winners fail to get back to us with their mailing addresses.

Beside the decorations and yummy cookies and candy for the season, my favorite part of the Christmas Season is Christmas Eve!
It's become our tradition that every year my family makes a cheese fondue and we all get involved. We have Christmas music playing while we're having a blast fixing and eating our meal. Then we each open one gift, put on our Christmas pj's and watch Christmas movies! The families occasionally stay the whole night to share in the fun of Christmas morn and then Christmas service at church (if we didn't go to midnight candlelight service, which is MY favorite).

Janet Robinson

11/2/2018 07:49:28 am

Christmas is all about the decorated trees for me. Even the palm trees that have their trunks wrapped in lights in Charleston, SC. And seeing all of the outdoor decorated trees throughout the south. When the power goes out from a big winter storm in my hometown in southwest Virginia, you bring out all of the heavy quilts, get a fire going in the fireplace, and sleep it out as much as you can.

Colleen Fernandes

10/2/2018 07:30:13 am

Last year for Christmas Eve each person told two goals for the new year - one work/school related and one personal. I want to do it again this year.

Kathy Schnitz

10/2/2018 07:38:31 am

The best part of Christmas for me is just gathering with my family. We don’t exchange gifts (I have 6 siblings with kids and grandkids, so a very large group. We do get something for my parents, though.). And we just carry-in lunch, nothing fancy. But we have a wonderful time anyway. Thanks for the chance. Love your books!

HeatherLynnHoff

10/2/2018 07:41:41 am

My favorite Christmas tradition has been toasting and thanking the person/family that donated the heart that saved my life. I wouldn’t have lived to see Christmas,2005. Because of their generosity and gift that I’m here today. They didn’t pick up my letter of gratitude from Life Bank, so I toast them every year because I am so grateful to them and to be here with my family.

Susan Wilkinson

10/2/2018 07:56:11 am

I love doing holiday decorations. I have a lot for Christmas and I also love wrapping gifts. I just can't put them under the barely done up tree due to my young kitties that haven't learned to leave thing alone.

Doris Lankford

10/2/2018 08:25:53 am

I have preordered Winter at the Beach from Amazon and can't wait to read it. I have a new granddaughter coming in early December so I am sure our traditions will be changing. I do love to ride around and look at all the decorations other people put up.

peggy clayton

10/2/2018 08:36:01 am

I used to be into the holidays all the way until I moved away from my family. They all live in Ca spread across the state and I am now in Ia. So this holiday is sad but I keep it inside and my husband and i celebrate he is estranged from his kids one of whom lives very close but won;t stop by. So we do have one that comes and brings his son and that is fun. We decorate and of course my hubby loves to bake so he will make me a lot of goodies. We exchange a few odds and ends but we have 2 pups and we make it fun for everyone.. We are traveling out to Ca sometime between now and then so i am super excited to see them and give hugs i am bringing some of their presents as shipping is so expensive. Take care and Happy Fall which i love as i have RSD and it is so painful and the weather is good for me !

The Christmas Eve candlelight service is the only tradition my family has and the season is not complete until we attend.

Kate Bobb

10/2/2018 09:54:19 am

The pretty lights and the magical feeling

Marie Roberts

10/2/2018 11:30:47 am

I love to see all the Christmas lights and decorations, and to hear all the Christmas songs.

denise

10/2/2018 12:15:59 pm

There's just something about a Christmas sugar cookie combined with hot chocolate that tastes extra special during the holiday season.

Robyn K

10/2/2018 06:04:17 pm

I love how everyone seems to be friendlier, and gathering with families and friends. Thank you for this chance!

Mary Mannella

10/2/2018 07:14:26 pm

I love making cookies for family & friends & decorating. Bit the most important thing is my son coming home for Christmas. He lives in Louisville KY & I love when he is home. To hear home.talking & laughing feels my heart with joy.

Gretchen

10/2/2018 11:11:52 pm

varies each year

Michele Perez

10/3/2018 05:25:43 am

I love going out with my kids to buy a real Christmas tree. I have always had 1 growing up, and when we moved from New York to Florida after my husband passed away, I decided to keep the tradition going.

I always tease my kids (which are actually young adults lol, but they'll always be my kids) that this we we'll get an artificial tree that gets them all riled up.

Marsha Whitfield

10/3/2018 06:51:52 am

My favorite part of Christmas is watching the excitement in my grandchildren's eyes as they open their gifts and just being together with my entire family.

Nancy

10/3/2018 09:43:39 am

I live in FL now and my family is in PA but we do get together in PA at Christmas. It is great to celebrate with family.

Lori R

10/4/2018 04:20:10 am

I love to bake and decorate Christmas cookies which my family really enjoy eating. My favorite part is Christmas Eve. We have a buffet and then we watch a Christmas movie together. Later the children are allowed to open one present.

BN100

10/4/2018 09:42:47 am

decorations

Diane Sallans

10/4/2018 09:59:52 am

My town has a Christmas Eve Carol sing around the green, then my church has a candlelight service - so pretty with the sparkly lights.

I've lost power on occasion, but not usually for very long. But I lost it for 12 days thanks to Hurricane Sandy. I had trees down, but at least they didn't hit my house.

Jenny T

10/7/2018 11:55:22 am

I love the spirit of Christmas with all of the lights, decorations, cards from people you haven't heard from all year, and the cookies!

The sights. sounds.scents. and spirit of the season--all wonderful--all not to be misses!!! Best Wishes for all releases and Happy Holidays!!!

Linda

10/19/2018 11:21:42 am

Family and friends - Decorating with family, cooking with and for family and friends, creating surprises for them and celebrating the season of love and hope.

terry hurley

10/25/2018 04:12:16 am

As i got older Christmas has become all about the meal, its a time to reconnect with my family,

Julia

11/2/2018 07:30:32 am

I like the quiet of the snowy days, and I love to see all the houses decorated with lights.

Ellen C.

11/2/2018 07:31:44 am

Love getting together with family over the holidays...of course, there are always cookies involved.

Lori R

11/2/2018 07:51:45 am

I love our Christmas Eve buffet with my whole family together and all relaxed. We then enjoy a family movie together.

Roberta Ann Gigis

11/2/2018 08:18:52 am

My Family usually has a buffet dinner that includes pizza. a tradition we had for over thirty years . We watch Christmas movies and play board game .
It is a great time to catch up with our relatives and to see what we all have been up to in our busy lives.

Sheila Golding

11/2/2018 09:36:35 am

My favorite part is the festive feeling. People giving holiday wishes decorations, love in the air.

Jo Ann Hunter

11/2/2018 09:44:45 am

My favorite thing about Christmas is Christmas Eve when I go to my sisters for Christmas Eve dinner, then we open presents then we have dessert it's all about having the family together.

Linda Moore

11/2/2018 10:01:25 am

My favourite part of Christmas is being with family. We get together with my siblings for dinner before Christmas as we all have kids and grandkids that do not live close. We usually celebrate on Christmas Day with our boys and our two grandkids but we are flexible and it’s Christmas for us on whatever day we can all be together! We have a big breakfast, open gifts and a traditional turkey dinner. After dinner, we play board or card games. The best Christmas is the time spent with family! ❤️

jennifer mathis

11/2/2018 10:03:05 am

i love watching my kids get excited about christmas coming . We live where we get ice storms so some winter we do spend a few days without power, we tend to hang out and play cards together

Joody Hunt

11/2/2018 11:04:51 am

Christmas is a hard time for me, as my mom passed away right before the holiday. In 2013, I was doing great, had the trees up, decorating done and most of my baking done early, I was on a roll! Until we got hit hard by an ice storm on the 22nd and lost power, my in-laws house caught on fire due to an electrical surge from a generator on the 23rd, and the power it didn't come back on until the night of the 25th! It's definitely a Christmas we will never forget!

Robin in NC

11/2/2018 11:35:00 am

I don't ever recall being without power at Christmas time. Some of my most favorite parts of the holidays are Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, my mom's fudge & homemade sugar cookies!!

Cynthia J Reifel

11/2/2018 11:37:49 am

My favorite thing about the Christmas Season is the feeling that something special is in the air. People, in general, are nicer and more thoughtful. I used to love buying and wrapping Christmas presents but, I love alone with my dog now and, everyone else lives at least 3 hours to the whole country away.
The only time I've had to deal with power outages was after hurricanes and, the neighborhood would get together and barbeque all the meat out of everyone's freezers!

Rae Perry

11/2/2018 12:42:48 pm

I love to spend time with family.

Doris Lankford

11/2/2018 12:53:47 pm

I love seeing all the pretty lights and decorations at Christmas. I will have a new granddaughter this Christmas (due Dec. 4) so this year and every year after will be very special.

Debbie T.

11/2/2018 01:11:43 pm

Spending time with family makes me happy.

JoAnne Weiss

11/2/2018 02:17:33 pm

For me it's Christmas Eve when all my siblings and their families plus some cousins and friends join us for a traditional family dinner and to exchange gifts. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without some of the same foods we had growing up for Christmas Eve.

Kathleen O

11/3/2018 06:01:14 am

I love the decorating and the parties..

Gail Hollingsworth

11/3/2018 07:08:55 am

With grandkids our traditions have changed. We go to church at 5pm Christmas Eve. Then everyone heads to our house to open presents from us. Christmas morning we go across the street to our daughter’s house to watch our grandkids get their gifts.
Talking about disasters, one Christmas I spent the whole day sick with the stomach flu. My husband had to make the family rounds with our two kids.
I loved Winter at the Beach! If you haven’t read it yet you must!! Disasters can be turned into something good.

Nancy O'Brien

11/3/2018 09:44:17 am

I love the spirit of Christmas - like a Hallmark movie

JEAN MESS

11/3/2018 03:20:01 pm

MY FAVORITE IS SENDING AND RECEIVING CHRISTMAS CARDS.

Mary Mannella

11/3/2018 05:04:06 pm

My favorite thing about Christmas is my son coming home from Kentucky for the Holiday. I love having him home.

My favorite part of Christmas is the music. I can't get into the spirit without listening to my favorite songs.

Anne Christenson

11/5/2018 06:38:30 am

Where I grew up, luminarias are an old tradition. My favorite thing to do over the holidays is to walk through the older, historic parts of the city and enjoy the luminarias on Christmas Eve.

peggy clayton

11/5/2018 09:07:46 am

Christmas Eve is a sad time for me as I lived in Ca but moved to Ia and now my kids have their own kids there. To make it seem like they are with me I call all of them and this year will be face timing with them as my daughter in law taught us how to do it when we were with them last week. We drove over 2100 miles back home and first thing we did was try it out and it worked so that is what we will use on Christmas Eve.

Tracy L Sigmann

11/7/2018 04:03:26 am

Love the holiday season and being with family. So much joy and happiness in the air!

We lost power in NJ for 12 days during hurricane Sandy. Thankfully our hot water heater worked for hot showers because after the hurricane we were hit with a snow storm and falling temperatures. We ran an extension cord out a window to my husbands car to keep the heater running in our 70-gallon tropical fish tank, used our outdoor gas grill to boil water for drip coffee and used the grill to cook everything else (had to buy a new frying pan and kettle after!!) and kept a fire burning in the fireplace (converted to a gas insert after - much warmer!!). Quite the storm experience. After that, I always make sure to have cash, batteries, bottled water and propane for the grill on hand!

What's not to love about Christmas! I enjoy everything, especially my grandchildren & family get togethers and all the awesome food. This time of caring inspires me to help those who are less fortunate with food & clothing. May God bless us all that we are safe & enjoy this time with each other.
If our electricity goes out we light candles & play games to pass the time. If it's for a very long time we try to go somewhere that it is warm. Happy Holidays!!! And Thanks, for the chance to win your Awesome book.